Cybersecurity threats

A cybersecurity threat represents any malignant attack that seeks to access data unlawfully, impede digital operations, or damage information. Cybersecurity threats can develop from various individuals, that includes corporate spies, hacktivists, terrorist groups, hostile nation-states, criminal organizations, lone hackers, and discontented employees.

Malignant individuals often look for ransom or other kinds of economic gain, but attacks can be performed with a raft of motives, including political activism purposes.

With the evolution of network-based ransomware worms, attackers can now originate campaigns without human intervention as a result cyber-attacks are continuously increasing.  A cyber-attack is when an individual or an organization purposely and maliciously attempts to break the information system of another individual or organization

The number of security events increased in number and complexity, therefore, cybersecurity professionals should have an in-depth knowledge of the following types of cybersecurity threats.

Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks

It is the type of attack where an attacker interrupts a two-party transaction by placing themselves in the middle. From there the attacker can steal and operate data by intercepting traffic. This type of attack generally exploits security vulnerabilities in a network. For example, in unsecured public wifi, the attackers insert themselves between a visitor’s device and the network and collect all information and data about the user. This kind of attack is very difficult to identify.

Denial-of-Service (DOS) Attack

DOS attacks are performed by flooding systems, servers, and/or networks with traffic to encumber resources and bandwidth. The attack originates from a computer network. Cyber attackers often use a flood attack to disturb the connection process and carry out a DoS. Several other techniques may be used, and some cyber attackers use the time that a network is disabled to establish other attacks.

SQL Injections

When an attacker injects malicious code into a server using SQL (server query language) and forces the server to surrender protected information, this type of attack takes place. It usually includes the submission of malicious code into an unprotected website comment or search box.

Phishing

Phishing attacks are extremely common and involve sending mass amounts of fraudulent emails to unsuspecting users, disguised as coming from a reliable source. The fraudulent emails often appear to be legit but connect the user to a malicious file which is created to grant Cybersecurity threats  attackers access to the device to control it or gather reconnaissance, install malicious files, or extricate data such as user information, financial info, etc. Phishing attacks can also take place via social networks and other online communities, through direct messages from other users with hidden intent.

Malware

The term “malware” represents various types of attacks which include spyware, viruses, and worms. Malware uses a vulnerability to break a network when a user clicks a dangerous link or email attachment, which is used to install malicious software inside the system.

Password Attacks

A cyber attacker gets access to a wealth of information by decoding the right password. A strategy cyber attackers attack is the data insider that relies heavily on human interaction and misleads people into breaching standard security practices. Other types of password attacks include gaining a password database.

Emolet

Emotet is described as an advanced, modular banking Trojan that essentially functions as a downloader or dropper of other banking Trojans. Emotet continues to be among the most costly and devastating malware.

IoT Attacks

While internet connectivity creates convenience and ease for individuals across every imaginable device, it also grants an increasing number of access points for attackers to exploit and create disaster. The interconnectedness of things makes it possible for attackers to break an entry point and use it as a gate to exploit other devices in the network.

Zero-day Exploit

A Zero-day Exploit refers to the unfair use of a network vulnerability when it is new, that is before a patch is released or implemented. Zero-day attackers jump at the newly introduced vulnerability in the small window of time where no safety measures exist. Thus, preventing zero-day attacks needs constant monitoring, proactive detection, and agile threat management practices.